Little Girl

Milton Avery (1893-1965), Little Girl, drypoint, signed and dated in pencil lower right, numbered lower left (23/60) [also signed in the plate lower left). Reference: Lunn 11 (only state), from the edition of 60. In very good condition, on a cream wove paper, the full sheet, 8 3/4 x 4 3/4, the sheet 15 x 13 inches; archival window matting.

A fine impression, printed in a brownish/black ink, with a veil of plate tone.

Milton Avery made his first drypoint just after his daughter March was born, in 1932. Although primarily a painter, he turned to printmaking frequently throughout his career, making a number of drypoints in the ’30’s and ’40’s, then turning to woodcuts and linocuts in later years.

Little Girl is a thoroughly modernist composition, but appears to have roots in late Renaissance Mannerist portraiture.

Although Avery paintings have regularly achieved high auction and dealer prices, public recognition of Avery as a master modern American printmaker has only recently been forthcoming.